Final Information

An event sanctioned by USMS, Inc., through one of its Local Masters Swimming Committees (LMSC), must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Conduct of the event must be in strict compliance with applicable swimming rules and administrative regulations of USMS, Inc. A current USMS rule book must be available at the event.

2. The referee shall be certified as a stroke and turn judge, starter, or referee by USA Swimming, YMCA, or any other USMS-approved certifying body. See article 103 of the USMS rule book for certification requirements.

3. All competitors must hold current USMS registrations or valid travel permits or their equivalents, or have other acceptable proof of current Masters swimming registration, and must be 18 years of age or over. The entry form must contain the following clause, INCLUDING THE CAPITALIZATION, and it must be signed by each person entering the meet:
I, the undersigned participant, intending to be legally bound, hereby certify that I am physically fit and have not been otherwise informed by a physician. I acknowledge that I am aware of all the risks inherent in Masters swimming (training and competition), including possible permanent disability or death, and agree to assume all of those risks. AS A CONDITION OF MY PARTICIPATION IN THE MASTERS SWIMMING PROGRAM OR ANY ACTIVITIES INCIDENT THERETO, I HEREBY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO CLAIMS FOR LOSS OR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS FOR LOSS OR DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, OF THE FOLLOWING: UNITED STATES MASTERS SWIMMING, INC., THE LOCAL MASTERS SWIMMING COMMITTEES, THE CLUBS, HOST FACILITIES, MEET SPONSORS, MEET COMMITTEES, OR ANY INDIVIDUALS OFFICIATING AT THE MEETS OR SUPERVISING SUCH ACTIVITIES. In addition, I agree to abide by and be governed by the rules of USMS. (Rule book article 204.1)

4. Any income derived from the event must be used for the general welfare of the promoting organization as a whole. A sanction may not be issued to any organization whose interest in sports and games is purely commercial, or where the event is to be promoted solely for the profit or the advertising value to be derived there from.

5. Entry forms and programs must bear the statement "Sanctioned by (LMSC name) for USMS, Inc." and the sanction number.

6. If this event is a competition and the pool does not meet mandatory facilities standards, then entry forms and programs must bear the statement "Times achieved at this competition will not be submitted for USMS Top Ten or record consideration." This language must immediately follow the sanction statement described in criterion #5 above.

7. The word "Olympic" or any derivative thereof may not be used in any manner in connection with the event unless consent is obtained from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

8. Events labeled as 'Choice' or 'Open,' where any stroke is allowed, will not be eligible for records or Top Ten and cannot be included in a Top Ten submission.

9. If this event is a competition, results and required Pool Length Certifications Form(s) must be submitted in proper format within 14 days of the event to the LMSC Top 10 Recorder and LMSC Sanctions Chair. See Appendix B of the rule book (PREPARATION OF MEET RESULTS and POOL LENGTH CERTIFICATION form) for proper format. Results should also be submitted to meetresults@usms.org for inclusion in the unofficial current top times database.